Israel Delays Funds for Palestinians Over Hamas Concern

[Violet_Crumble]

Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz will delay transferring tax funds to the Palestinian Authority until receiving proof that the money won’t go to the Islamic Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip.

Meetings scheduled this week between Israeli Finance Ministry and Palestinian Authority officials won’t take place in the meantime, Steinitz said. The transfer of tax and customs revenue collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority will be delayed, he said.

“The burden of proof is upon them to clarify if there is a common treasury for both Hamas and Fatah,” Steinitz said today on Army Radio. “Is it certain that none of the money will be transferred to a terror organization, for the purchase of missiles and the financing of rockets?”

The rival Palestinian Hamas and Fatah groups said April 27 they had reached a preliminary agreement to end their almost four-year divide, form a unity government and hold elections.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-01/israel-delays-funds-for-palestinians-over-hamas-correct-.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Fayyad urges international intervention over Israeli freeze on Palestinian taxes

Palestinian PM denounces Israel's suspension of $89 million, says Israeli 'threats' would not disrupt Fatah-Hamas reconciliation.

<snip>

"Palestinian Authority Prime Minster Salam Fayyad on Sunday urged foreign powers to intervene after Israel froze the transfer of tens of millions of dollars in Palestinian tax money following the formation of a Hamas-Fatah unity government.

"Threats ... will not deter us from concluding our reconciliation process. It is our policy and we must work harder to end our divisions as soon as possible," added Fayyad."

<snip>

"The PA has asked the foreign powers to stop Israel from blocking the transfers, which make up 70 percent of its revenues. Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said earlier Sunday that Israel, by its action, had "started a war."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/fayyad-urges-international-intervention-over-israeli-freeze-on-palestinian-taxes-1.359171

[Scurrilous]

2. World pressuring Israel not to block Palestinian tax funds

<snip>

"The international community is pressuring Israel to transfer NIS 300 million of Palestinian tax money to the Palestinian Authority, despite the reconciliation agreement signed by Fatah and Hamas yesterday in Cairo.

Both United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Quartet envoy Tony Blair have spoken to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and requested the funds be allowed through.

"The money is Palestinian money so it must be transferred. That is a quartet position. Hillary Clinton made the same point,” Blair told Haaretz. “I think what happens when the new government comes to power is another thing, but at the moment Salam Fayyad is the prime minister and the arrangements are what they were always.”

Netanyahu has fully backed Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, who decided to delay transferring the tax revenue Israel collect on the Palestinians’ behalf in wake of the agreement. The prime minister told Clinton and Blair that the issue was being examined by Steinitz and that a decision will be reached within days."

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/world-pressuring-israel-not-to-block-palestinian-tax-funds-1.359877

[Jefferson23]

3. Another great move towards peace. n/t

[Scurrilous]

4. Palestinians: Israel to release tax funds

"Israel has agreed to release millions of dollars in suspended tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority (PA), a Palestinian official said on Sunday.

Earlier this month Israel had blocked the routine handover of about 300 million shekels ($88 million) in customs and other levies it collects on behalf of the Palestinians after Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas struck a unity deal with Hamas, his Islamist rivals."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4069138,00.html

[Shaktimaan]

5. happy to hear that

It's a tricky issue. Israel certainly has a point of concern.
They're probably doing the right thing here.

[azurnoir]

6. good news

:thumbsup: